Furnace wall



Dec. 3, 1940/ F. B. BIGELOW FURNACE WALL 5 sheets-sheet 1 Filed May- 29,1939 'INVENTOR.

X ATTORNEY.

.m/M f I Dec. 3, 1940.- v F. B. BIGELOW, 2,223,400

FURNACE WALL Filed May 29, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 21 ig- 21 m4 L Z3 Dec.3, 1940. F. B. BIGELOW 0 FURNACE WALL Filed May 29, 1.939 5 Sheets-Sheet3 Dec. 3, 1940. F. B. BIGELOW 2,223,400

' .FURNAGE WALL- Filed May 29, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORQ Dec. 3,1940. F, a BIG LOW j 2,223,400

FURNACE WALL Filed May 29, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 GEE Patented Dec. 3,1940 UNITED STATES FURNACE WALL Frank Burr Bigelow, Detroit, Mich.,assignor to Bigelow-Liptak Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation ofMichigan Application May 29, 1939, Serial No. 276,351

10 Claims.

The current invention pertains to certain structural features ofadvantage and benefit in furnace-wall constructions of the suspendedtype and it concerns more particularly the method or means of supportfor the bricks or refractories which will effect a permanent furnaceenclosure with suitable provision for the expansion and contraction ofthe refractory elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a design of supports whichallows a minimum amount of surface of the sustaining members to beexposed to the cooling efiect of the lower temperature at the outside ofthe furnace-lining and which effects a material reduction inheat-release therefrom and in substantial lessening in conduction andradiation losses heretofore met with in structures of this character.

In the past, it has been customary in suspended furnace-walls to providemetallic supportingmembers of a style and form with a substantialsurface exposed and subjected to the cooling effects outside of thefurnace, or in the air-lanes, in order to prevent an excessiveand'detrimental heating of these members under certain operatingconditions.

Modern designs of boilers, oil process and other types of heaters aremuch more eificient and hence small losses at these higher eflicienciesare more serious than those occurring in structures operating at lowerefliciencies.

These losses are of three principal kinds: (a) those due to heatconduction through the walls of the furnaces nd convection areas, (1))those occurring by reason of air-infiltration through the setting andwhich tend, especially in convection areas to increase weights of theproducts of combustion and dilute the combustion gases, especially thecarbon-dioxide, and (0) losses occasioned by exfiltration offurnace-gases in socalled high-head or high-draft boilers or similarheat-appliances which arenot only direct losses in themselves, but whichalso have deleterious effects upon other parts of the furnace-structure.

This signifies that the supporting-members of such constructions will beembedded within the refractory blocks or the insulation, or both,resulting thereby in increased temperatures of the supporting-members tothe point where some type of alloy or heat-resisting metals must beused. This means the employment of higher cost materials, which in turn,necessitate that the size and weight of the supporting-members be keptat a minimum.

Other advantages of the new, improved construction will become apparentto those skilled in the art from a consideration'of a present preferredembodiment of the invention illustrated in detail in the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of the specification.

In these drawings, in which like reference characters for simplicityhave been employed to designate the same parts throughout the views-Figure 1 is a fragmentary isometric section through one style of wall;

Figure 2 is a fractional view of such wall as seen from the front orinside of the furnace;

Figure 3 is a sectional portion of the wall as viewed from the outside;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, vertical section disclosing another method ofanchoring the tiles;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 presents a modified means for supporting the brackets;

Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 illustrate different shapes of refractorybricks or tiles and a lockingy;

Figure 13 is a partial isometric section through a diiferent form ofwall;

Figure 14 is an incomplete view of such wall, as seen from the inside ofthe furnace with parts cut away to show the supporting members;

Figure 15 is a horizontal section on line l5-I5 of Figure 14; I

Figure 16 is a vertical section on line I 6--l 6 of Figure 15;

Figures 17 and 18 are perspective views of refractory tiles; and

Figure 19 is an alternate or plate-panel construction for carrying thebrackets.

Referring to these drawings, it will be, noted that the furnace-wall, asrepresented more especially in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5 comprises a seriesof upright, spaced-apart metal members or columns 2|, 2| to which metalbrackets 22, 22 are attached by bolts, rivets, or other suitable meansas, for example, is indicated in Figure 6, wherein a double-endednotched or recessed bracket I22 is mounted on the vertical, supportingelement 2| by means of a socket-member I20 fastened to the part 2| andfitted around and supporting the middle portion of the bracket, all asis fully illustrated.

These Wall-brackets 22, 22 in turn carry horizontal pipes, rods or suchother form of horizontal members 23,23 as may be desired with the endportions of the pipes or other members accommodated in aperturesextended through the outstanding arms of the brackets.

If pipes are employed, provision can be made for the circulation of air,gas or liquids through the same to provide for the cooling of theirsupporting members as shown by the arrows in Figure 1 and means may alsobe used for re- 6 claiming the heat from the same, if it is so desired.In employing the pipes in this relation, they may be connected inseries, or in parallel, or both methods may be used more or lessconjointly.

10 The refractory members or tiles are of special shapes to accommodatethis particular type of support and these blocks or bricks are carriedand held in place by the vertically-spaced pipes 23 or equivalentmembers, and, in the construction illustrated herein, these tiles arearranged in groups of two shapes, 2% and 25, and when assembled they areheld firmly in position, and, at the same time, provision is made forthe expansion of the individual tiles without incurring pressure uponadjoining tiles by means of an expansion-joint 26, at suitableintervals.

The members comprising this wall are assembled by securing the brackets22, 22 by bolting them to the columns or other members 2|, 2| or 2% byloosely attaching the same by the recessed pockets, as shown in Figure6, or by such other method as may be advisable.

These pipes 23, or such other horizontal supporting means as may beused, are arranged at vertically-spaced intervals by inserting them inthe holes or sockets provided for them in the brackets, thereby forminga series of horizontal supports. 1

A refractory-shape 24 is then placed in position on one such pipe 23,the recess I23 on the bottom of such block 24 engaging or accommodatingthe pipe 23 as is clearly indicated.

Thereupon a refractory-shape 25 is inserted from the rear, or it can beslipped in sidewise, above the block 24 and its boss 21, at the rear andtop of the element 25, engages the back of the next upper support 23,and is held in place thereby.

When these two shapes 24 and 25 are in position, they are maintained inthat relation by the friction of their intermediate contacting surfaces28 and 29, and, as the indicated operation is continued, it will bereadily seen that each group of two or more shapes suspended or held inplace in this manner will be self-supporting with relation to theadjoining group or groups and provision can be made for the expansion ofthe same without imposing strain on the adjacent construction.

If preferred, shapes or tiles 24 and 25 can be grooved or recessed atthe joint between them at 30, 30 and, when these indentations are filledwith clay or a plastic material, one or a series of sealing joints willbe provided to prevent the leakage of air or gas between such shapes,and

such filling of these grooves will also afford greater frictionalresistance between the shapes for maintaining the same in their properrelation.

For the purpose of preserving the alignment of the tiles or shapes atsuch times as the refractory material is not of the proper texture ornature to supply the'necessar'y frictional resistance between theshapes, it is intended, if necessary, to use an anchor or section ofburned fireclay or other material 3|, of the 'proper size and shape tofit registering recesses or indentations I30 in the adjacent surfaces ofthe shapes, such material 3| being inserted as the wall is erected orplaced between the shapes from the side after such shapes or tiles arein place.

The tiles located at the supporting-brackets may be recessed, as shownin Figures 1 and 2, or otherwise, to fit around such brackets and permitthe introduction of the tiles from the back with sliding alongthereafter sidewise into place 5 meeting the remaining tiles.

By this means the shapes will be held in proper correlation of alignmentor register and also, in case of the breakage of the shapes during theoperation of the furnace, these members will 10 serve to preventportions or sections of the shapes from falling away.

Provision may be made for sealing the expansion joints at 26 byextending the vertical portions of the tiles 25 immediately in front ofthe 15 supporting members 23 downwardly at I21 and providing aregistering vertical surface I24 (Fig.

'7) on the tiles 24, thus supplying an ofiset horizontal jointdefinitely sealed by the use of fireclay, plastic or other character ofseal. 20

Each tile may be recessed on one side vertically at IM to receive a ribIliI on the next adjacent tile, thus efiecting a tight vertical jointbetween adjacent tiles or shapes.

In assembling the members forming the wall, 25 the tiles may be placedso that they register one above the other, or preferably staggered, asshown in Figure 1, in order to simplify the erection of the same, sothat when a lower tile is put in position, it is held and supported inits proper 30 place until the upper tile 25 is slipped into position, asthe two tiles form an independentlysupported unit, and by staggering thetiles, i. e., by arranging the upper tiles so that the joints of thesame register at some intermediate points of ,35 the lower tiles, thelatter are held in place by the overlapping tiles as the erection workprogresses.

The same general arrangement, as depicted in Figure 1, can be employedwith a greater num- 4( her of tiles between each pair of supportingpipes or tubes, the construction being the same as shown in such Figure1 except that three such tiles 31, 38 and 39 are employed (see Fig. 4),the tiles 31 and 39 being substantially like those 45 24 and 25 ofFigure 1, the intermediate tile 38 being of a somewhat differentconformation, as is clearly shown, and, in this case, the anchors I3Iare rectangular in cross-section instead of round and the tile recessesI32 are correspond- 5( ingly shaped.

In the illustrations, provision is made for the insulation of the wall,if desired, by the use of block or plastic insulating materials such asthat designated 33 in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, in which 51 case thetemperature of.the supporting-members embedded in the wall will bematerially increased, so that the use of alloy or heat-resistingcastings or supporting-members 22 or I22 and 23, may be necessary, andit will be noted 6' from these drawings that the only connection betweenthe hot portion of the wall and the outside of the same is a smallsection of the brackets 22 or I22, thus reducing the heat transmissionto the outer surface to a minimum.

It is necessary, or desirable, in a construction of this type that it bea suspended wall to-prevent cumulative loading of the refractories orinsulating-material and, at the same time, permit of a materialreduction in the weight of the furnace enclosure at these points.

As a modification or alteration of the structures already described, anindividual. group or panel construction will now be considered as it isprobable that, at times, this character or ar- 7 rangement may bedesirable, for example, a series of individual groups or panels may bebolted or otherwise assembled in place and when thus in position,comprise a complete unit.

5 A group or panel, Figs. 13-18, consists of a frame composed of a baseangle-bar 4|, end upright angle-bars 42, 42, and a top cross-strip 43secured together in any approved manner and having the brackets or clipsotherwise attached thereto in proper position, these brackets, as in theprevious instance, being apertured and supporting the pipes or rods 23,23.

The tiles are carried individually or in groups 15 by the pipes 23 andwhen the tiles are in place,

they comprise a self-supporting unit.

When assembling the parts of the wall, the brackets 22, 22 are attachedto the frame or supporting members 42, 42 at intervals spaced for theproper support of the refractory shapes to be employed therewith.

A row or series of shapes 44 is placed on the projecting ledge 4| andpipe 23 is then inserted in the corresponding brackets 22, 22 which will25 hold the tiles 44 in a horizontal position.

The next row or series of tiles 45 are then placed in position and abovethem the next row or series of shapes 44 are inserted and thecorresponding pipe or supporting member 23 is introduced engaging therecesses in the tiles and, when in place, holding the group of tiles 44and 45 in position, the tension or friction of the surfaces between thetiles 44 and 45 at the point 40 serving to hold the refractories intension and in a horizontal position.

The indicated operation is continued until the top of the group or panelis reached and this is completed by a row or series of shapes 45 whichengage the pipe 23 at the recesses at the bot- 40 toms of the shapes.

From this it will be seen that each group or panel consists of a seriesof refractory shapes v which are in turn carried individually or inpairs in such a manner that the refractory shapes are not subject tocumulative loading and a series of panels may be assembled tomeet therequirements of the installation, as by bolting their upright flangestogether as shown in Figure 15.

Another embodiment of the invention is portrayed in Figure 19, and, inthis instanca'each panel comprises a supporting sheet-metal plate 5|with integral, stiifening and reenforcing, marginal, vertical flanges52, 52, each such plate being bolted or otherwise secured at its middleportion at 53, 53 to one of the upright columns 2|.

The angle-brackets 22 are fastened to the face of such panel-sheet andthese brackets accommodate in their aligned apertures thetile-supporting members, such as the pipes 23, 23.

These panels are joined together at their ends by reason of theapertured flanges similar to the manner indicated in Figure 15 inconnection with the other embodiment of the invention.

A particular advantage of this invention is its extreme simplicity indesign and erection, the use of standard shape refractories with slightchanges instead of a number of special shapes involving mold cost andexpensive manufacture, its adaptability to various structural andoperating conditions with minor modifications in detail together withthe simplest form of supporting members and an extremely low heat leakor radiation loss.

Those acquainted with this art will readily understand that .theinvention, as defined by the 22, 22 bolted or appended claims, is notnecessarily limited and restricted to the precise and exact details ofstructure shown and described and that various modifications and changesmay be resorted to without departure from the heart and essence 5 of theinvention and without the loss or sacriflce of any of its materialbenefits and advantages.

I claim:

1. In a furnace-wall structure, the combina- 10 tion of columns,brackets mounted on said columns in vertically-spaced relation and inhori zontal alignments, horizontal supporting-members carried by saidbrackets, and groups of superposed refractory-blocks mounted between 15pairs of said supporting-members, the lowermost block or blocks of eachgroup resting on one of said supporting-members and each having achannel in its under surface receiving said member, the uppermost blockor blocks of each 20 group each havin a projection located behind and inengagement with the next higher supporting-member, the blocks of eachgroup of the I same level resting on, and in frictional-engagement with,those of the samegroup of the next 25 lower level.

2. In a furnace-wall structure, the combination of columns, recessedbrackets mounted on said columns in vertically-spaced relation and inhorizontal alignments, horizontal supporting pipes carried by saidbrackets and occupying the recesses thereof, and groups of superposedrefractory blocks mounted between pairs of said pipes, the lowermostblock or blocks of each group resting on one of said pipes and each hav-35 ing a channel in its under surface receiving saidpipe, the uppermostblock or blocks of each grouphaving a projection located behind, and inengagement with, the next higher pipe, the blocks of each group of thesame level resting 40 on, and in frictional-engagement with, those ofthe same group of the next lower level.

3.111 a furnace-wall structure, the combination of columns,socket-members secured to said columns in vertically-spaced relation andin 45 horizontal alignments, brackets seated in said socket-members,horizontal supporting-members carried by said brackets, and groupof'superposed refractory-blocks mounted between pairs of saidsupporting-members, the lower- 50 most block or blocks of each groupresting on one of said supporting-members and each having a channel inits under surface receiving said memben'the uppermost block or blocks ofeach group each having a projection located behind, 65 and in engagementwith, the next higher supporting-member, the blocks of each group of thesame level resting on, and in frictional engagement with, those of thesame group of the next lower level. 60

4. In a furnace-wall structure, the combination of columns, double-endedbrackets mounted on said columns in vertically-spaced relation and inhorizontal alignments, each end of each such bracket bein apertured,horizontal sup- 65 porting-members carried by said brackets andoccupying said apertures, and groups of superposed refractory-blocksmounted between pairs of said supporting-members, the lowermost block orblocks of each group resting on one of 70 said supporting-members andeach having a channel in its under surface receiving said memher, theuppermost block or blocks of each group having a projection locatedbehind, and in engagement with, the next higher supporting- "l5 member,the blocks of each group of the same level resting on, and in.fritcional-engagement with, those of the same group of the next lowerlevel.

5. In a furnace-wall structure, the combination of columns, bracketsmounted on said columns in vertically-spaced relation and in horizontalalignments, horizontal supporting-members carried by said brackets,groups of superposed refractory-blocks mounted between pairs of saidsupporting-members, the lowermost block or blocks of each group restingon one of said supporting-members and each having a channel in its undersurface receiving said member, the uppermost block or blocks of eachgroup each having a projection located behind, and in engagement with,the next higher supporting-member, the blocks of each group of the samelevel resting on, and in frictional-engagemnt with, those of the samegroup of the next lower level, and locking-keys occupy n registeredgrooves in the top and bottom contacting faces of the blocks of saidgroups.

6. In a furnace-wall structure, the combination of columns, bracketsmounted on said columns in vertically-spaced relation and in horizontalalignments, horizontal supporting-members carried by said brackets,groups of superposed refractory-blocks mounted between pairs of saidsupporting-members, the lowermost block or blocks of each group restingon one of said supporting-members and each having a channel in its undersurface receiving said member, the uppermost block or blocks of eachgroup each having a projection located behind, and in engagement with,the next higher supportingmember, the blocks of each group of the samelevel resting on, and in frictional-engagement with. those of the samegroup of the next lower level, and locking-keys angular in cross-sectionoccupying registering grooves angular in crosssection in the t op andbottom contacting faces of the blocks of said groups.

7. In a furnace-wall structure, the combination of columns, bracketsmounted on said columns in vertically-spaced relation and in horizontalalignments, horizontal supporting-members carried by said brackets, andgroups of superposed refractory-blocks mounted between pairs of saidsupporting-members, the lowermost block or blocks of each group restingon one of said supporting-members and each having a channel in its undersurface receiving said member, the uppermost block or blocks of eachgroup each having a projection located behind, and in engagement with,the next higher supportingmember, the blocks of each group of the samelevel resting on, and in frictional-engagement with, those of the samegroup of the next lower level, each said blocks having a rib on onevertical side occupying a complementary groove on the adjacent verticalside of the next block.

8. In a furnace-wall structure, the combination of columns,metallic-panels secured to said columns, brackets mounted on said panelsin vertically-spaced relation and in horizontal alignments, horizontalsupporting-members carried by said brackets, and groups of superposedrefractory-blocks mounted between pairs of said supporting-members, thelowermost block or blocks of each group resting on one of saidsupportingmembers and each having a channel in its under surfacereceiving said member, the uppermostblock or blocks of each group eachhaving a projection located behind, and in engagement with, the nexthigher supporting-member, the blocks of each group of the same levelresting on, and in frictional-engagement with, those of the same groupof the next lower level.

9. In a furnace-wall structure, the combination of columns,metallic-panels secured to said columns, brackets fastened to each ofsaid panels in vertically-spaced relation and in horizontal alignments,horizontal supporting-members carried by said brackets, groups ofsuperposed refractory-blocks mounted between pairs of saidsupporting-members, the lowermost block or blocks of each group restingon one of said supporting-members and each having a channel in its undersurface receiving said member, the uppermost block or blocks of eachgroup each having a projection located behind and in engagement with thenext higher supporting-member, the blocks of each group of the samelevel resting on, and in frictional-engagement with, those of the samegroup of the next lower level, a ledge at the bottom of each of saidpanels, and a row of base blocks mounted on each said ledge.

10. In a fumace-wall structure, the combination of columns,metallic-panels secured to said columns and having marginal flangesalong adjacent edges, means fastening said flanges together, bracketsmounted on said panels in vertically spaced relation and in horizontala1ign-,

ments, horizontal supporting-members carried by said brackets, andgroups of superposed refractory-blocks mounted between pairs of saidsupporting-members, the lowermost block or blocks of each group restingon one of said supporting members, and each having a channel in itsunder surface receiving said member, the uppermost block or blocks ofeach group each having projection located behind, and in engagementwith, the next higher supporting-member, the

blocks of each group of'the same level resting on, and infrictional-engagement with, those of the same group of the next lowerlevel.

FRANK BURR BIGELOW.

